Any kind of accident where one person’s actions causes harm to someone else can be considered as a personal injury case. That means there are many possible cases that could result in someone filing a personal injury lawsuit. But what about the most common types of personal injury cases? Are some types of accidents or injuries more common than others?
Most Common Types of Personal Injury Cases
Even though numerous situations can give rise to a personal injury lawsuit, there are some situations that occur more often than others. As expressed by our Atlanta personal injury lawyers, these accidents or incidents are most likely to cause serious injuries and result in a victim’s need for compensation. The most common types of personal injury cases are:
Auto Accidents
Auto accidents are the leading cause of personal injury cases in the United States. One reason is that auto accidents can be extremely damaging to the individuals involved. Another reason is that often, it is the actions of one driver that causes injury to others. Examples of common auto accidents resulting in personal injury cases include:
- Accidents involving two or more vehicles
- Accidents involving a drunk or impaired driver
- Texting while driving (distracted driving)
- Accidents involving commercial trucks (tractor-trailers)
- Pedestrian or bicycling accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
In these accident situations, a careless driver can be held responsible for injuries to others.
Slip and Fall Accidents
Slip and fall accidents are another common complaint in personal injury cases. Property owners have a legal responsibility to maintain their property in a safe and hazard-free way. But not all accidents on other people’s property will lead to a slip and fall accident case. The crux of a slip and fall accident case rests on the property owner having a duty of care to the victim.
For example, grocery store owners have a duty of care to maintain a safe premise. If there is a leaky roof that is unrepaired and no hazard signage or barrier placed, then the property owner can be held responsible for injuries if someone slips and falls.
Medical Malpractice
Medical malpractice is another common type of personal injury case. Medical malpractice occurs when a healthcare professional fails to provide treatment that meets acceptable medical standards. When this happens and the patient is injured as a result, he or she can file a medical malpractice lawsuit against the healthcare provider.
It is important to remember that poor medical outcomes are not the same thing as malpractice. For example, if you are being treated for an infection but it gets worse, that is not medical malpractice. However, if you have symptoms of an infection but the doctor does not make a diagnosis and you go on to develop sepsis and have your amputated, then you may very well have grounds to file a medical malpractice lawsuit.
Healthcare providers are required to treat patients within acceptable standards. They can fail to do this in a variety of ways:
- Failing to diagnose a medical condition
- Failing to properly treat a medical condition
- Prescribing medication that is inappropriate or contraindicated
- Failure to advise a patient on the risks associated with a certain treatment, medication, or procedure
- Committing errors during surgery (injuring the patient, leaving objects inside the patient, allowing bacteria to enter the incision, etc.)
There are numerous situations that may constitute medical malpractice. Consult a lawyer before making any such allegations.
Dog Bite Injuries
Each year, around 800,000 people are treated for dog bite injuries. Some of these injuries are severe and cause disability, disfigurement, or death. Dog owners have a legal responsibility to maintain their dog, keep them on their property, and warn visitors if the dog is aggressive. Dog bite laws vary by state, but in most states, a victim can sue the dog’s owner if they sustain serious injuries.